New study explores how forest soils store carbon across eastern China

A new study published in Forest Ecosystems sheds light on how carbon is stored in forest soils across eastern China, offering valuable insights into forest carbon sequestration and its role in climate change mitigation. The research, led by scientists from Peking University and Chinese Academy of Sciences, investigates how soil organic carbon (SOC) is distributed in two key fractions—particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC)—across different latitudes and soil depths in tropical, subtropical, and temperate forests in eastern China.

Forests are critical carbon sinks, and understanding how carbon is stored in soil is essential for climate action. This study found that POC, which is more vulnerable to decomposition, increases with latitude and is more dominant in surface soils (0‒30 cm). In contrast, MAOC, which is more resistant to microbial breakdown, becomes the main form of carbon storage in deeper soils (30‒100 cm). Interestingly, tropical forests store less POC in surface soils, while temperate forests store more.

The study also found that MAOC undergoes more microbial processing than POC, particularly in lower-latitude forests with warmer climates. “Warmer and wetter climates foster more microbial activity, which accelerates the breakdown of organic matter,” explained Mr. Yunlong Hu, the lead author who is a PhD candidate at Peking University. “This leads to significant differences in carbon storage between tropical and temperate forests.”

The research has significant implications for enhancing forest carbon storage and climate change mitigation. Understanding how forest soils store carbon helps optimize management strategies for carbon sequestration.

This study enhances our understanding of how soil carbon is stored in forest ecosystems, revealing important differences across latitudes and soil depths. By uncovering the role of microbial activity and soil properties in carbon storage, the research provides a foundation for future studies and helps inform forest management practices aimed at combating climate change.